Myrtle Beach schools prepare for tornado drill

State Schools Superintendent Mick Zais recommends every school participates in a statewide tornado drill.

School principals say Tuesday morning they will make sure all students participate in the drill, and learn more information about tornadoes.

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) When parents drop off their kids at school, they are trusting the school staff to take care of the children no matter the situation. As schools statewide get ready for severe weather awareness week, they will be doing a drill that only comes once a year.

"We move our students into the hallway and we get into a tornado safety position," said Myrtle Beach Middle School principal Roger Gray.

"We're not only preparing for the drill but we're preparing for the real emergency in case it comes our way," said Myrtle Beach High School Principal Nona Kerr.

With the recent tornadoes blasting across the Midwest, the aftermath has really been a fresh reminder for staff and students on how serious and life threatening severe weather can be. State Schools Superintendent Mick Zais recommends every school participates in a statewide tornado drill. This year the goal is to make sure students are comfortable with the emergency plans.

School principals say Tuesday morning they will make sure all students participate in the drill, and learn more information about tornadoes. Since tornadoes can come and go in only a matter of minutes, they say it's important for your child to know exactly what to do when the time comes.

"There have been times when there have been emergency situations that have taken place," said principal Gray. "And I will tell you that the fact that we have practiced these situations have been very useful when we've had to enact them."

Principals also say they do submit their plans to the school district with details on how they'll handle severe weather situations with students at the beginning of the year. The statewide tornado drill starts at 9 a.m.